Fantasyland

This book has two major premises: (1) American irrationality is as old as the republic itself, older. It's as American as apple pie. (2) Right wing and Christian ascendency and imperviousness to facts share a common origin with left wing hippie culture of the 1960s, i.e. create your own reality. However you weigh the accuracy of the arguments, this book is a delight to read in both its accessibility and its inspiration.

A really fascinating – if a bit cynical – review of American history mapped along hoaxes, scams, (false) conspiracy theories, religion, cults, and other false beliefs in an attempt to describe and explain our current cultural and political state.

I think he makes a bit too much of some points – his denigration of libertarianism, video games, LARPing, Disney, Las Vegas, etc. – but the overall thrust of his thesis is quite thought-provoking. And I do appreciate that he attempts to balance his commentary slightly to avoid coming off as TOTALLY motivated in his reasoning.

A fantastic (in the modern sense of fantastic meaning well-crafted, rather than the original sense of being unbelievable) history of American wishful and magical thinking. I wish that American religious and political types would read this, but I'm rational enough to know that won't happen.

4.5 stars. I rounded down because I wish it didn't careen from topic to topic so frequently.